Incremental Reading in College November 26, 2009

I had an email from Sweden this week, the questions asked have been something I’ve been working on since I accepted the SuperMemo Method. I’ll try to answer this questions to my best knowledge and experience. As always feel free to comment further.

Is it possible to outsource the complete learning process to supermemo?

I believe it is, but doing it takes a lot of time, from acquiring the necessary skills to make the input to supermemo worth the time invested. Currently the bottle neck of outsourcing this leaning process to supermemo, is the time needed to make the questions and this also means making questions trough Incremental Reading.

Incremental Reading is a way of learning with out the need to absorb every data in a text from the first time, you go to the text several times and you only worry about what is important at that moment, as you are sure this same text will come later in your daily repetitions you don’t have to strain trying to understand, let alone memorize from the first reading. However when studying in college this process would probably take a lot of time. Time is a precious commodity you don’t have in Medicine studies, so sadly I would not recommend Incremental Reading for every material you read, I would absolutely not use it for reading upcomming exams, you might leave something behind and not able to check it out before the exam, and even if notting is missing you’ll probably stress your self thinking it might be better to check it out.

I use a combination of the traditional reading and Incremental reading, every thing is done in the SuperMemo collection. As the time has passed, I have a huge enciclopedia in it.

Some text are read from top to botton, later on I summarize main point in the top of the article and only make questions of this summary. But I keep the rest of the text in my collection, this allows you to check previous information you read someday.

Incremental reading is use for some more leisure reading, and any topic of my interest, including medicine, but which has no time deadline of any kind. I make questions of this text but using the incremental method.

I was thinking about scanning relevant chapters in my textbooks and the OCR them and add them to supermemo.

If you are able to scan and OCR text to Supermemo with out much lost of time, I support this approach, as you can latter search very easily any information, I previously lost much time searching something to review on paper books. Be sure you include information that is vital, moderation is the clue to SuperMemo.

Traditionally I read my books and underline the stuff that seems relevant. The next logical step would then be to move that info from the books to SM. However, a lot of underlines tend to be forgotten and it is a tedious process.

A lot of the information you are tested on medicine school is only needed for, well, the tests. This is a reality we can’t deny. So as bad as it sounds a lot information must still be crammed to pass some tests, this includes a lot of biology numbers and other kind of related info.

Make sure whe reading your book, you use marks not underlining, underlining looks good, but also takes time (believe me, I’ve timed my self using marks vs underlining is much much faster, and is no less effective). After marking make the commitment to extract the 10 or 20 most important fact to supermemo, go for speed while typing this questions not form, but ALWAYS include some reference that lets you go back you text book any time later. This question should be made after you finish the section, chapter or lecture, as this also helps you consolidate more effectively you memory of the whole lecture.

Is there any possible time savings in using IR on i.e neural science and physiology books?

Neural Science requires two aspects a lot of mnemonics and visual imagination, you have to remember pathways a lot. Using pictures in Supermemo is great for this. Physiology is more about undertanding process, understanding the humanbody as a machine, if you understand the principles (and make relevant questions about this principles in Supermemo) it all comes much easy.

Summary:

Incremental Reading is a great tool but I would not recommend it for any reading with a time deadline.

Read, sumarize and supermemorize only the most important.

OCR if possible any reading you want, except texts not suitable for IR

Use the Supermemo Method progresively, start with the least demanding courses, this will build confidence in the method without building much stress from using a new aproach.

Just keeping in touch October 19, 2009

Hello guys, I’ve been in a huge overload lately, hopefully this also means I’ve been very productive, but I’m still here, trying to keep on learning about supermemo and its uses.

What is SuperMemo 2008? September 29, 2009

Supermemo 2009 SuperMemo 2008 is a knowledge manager and builder. It helps you build knowledge trough the a mix of enhanced methods for learning and memorization.

Is an integrated environment design so you can read, view or listen any kind of information and following a series of progressive steps, gather bits of information from your fields of interests, and makes sure you remember up the limits of your capacity.

At its heart is a SRS (spaced repetition system) that although looks like other flash card systems, has its own algorithms develop over more than 20 years of research on the field of learning. Not a single other flashcard program offers protection from long delayed repetitions. If you don’t do 100 repetitions for a month you will get 300 items the next day, SuperMemo 2008 knows about human behavior and although it can’t make repetitions for you it helps you deal with delay in your daily repetitions by prioritization of your most important material.

Supermemo is a system integrated modules, so that you can take a big pile of information and processed it according to your current needs but with loosing your creativity purposes. It uses a series of other methods (priority, autopostpone, leaches, etc) developed trough many years to help you with information overflow and remembering what is most important.

Supermemo is better suited for semantic type of knowledge (the kind of knowledge that make you able to remember: What is the name of the president of your country) as opposed to procedural learning (the type that help you remember how to ride a bike). This is the kind of knowledge I more trouble remembering.

Supermemo 2008 has many new teaks over previous version: youtube incremental video has been a great help for getting trough a lot of opencourse clips from great academic colleges as well as many talk on this video platform. I wish this function is extended to other video formats in future builds of the application (it is continually updated), but truth be told I have more then enough to read, view, and listen and Supermemo 2008 is making it so much easier to deal with all this. This is one of the reasons I’ve been lost from blogging for more then 3 weeks (learning, learning, learning… and enjoying the ride).

I’ll make a complete review on SuperMemo 2008 as soon as possible. A lot of enhancements are so great they should have been included from the start… I’m always forgetting supermemo started as a solution for dealing with flashcard learning not the knowledge manager its come to be. Review will be centered in using this new enhancements an not if they are valuable or not, they are!

If this doesn’t fit supermemo’s site description of the program, its because is my personal description for of what it means to me, and probably should mean to you. SuperMemo has a somewhat high learning curve, but is great investment for long term knowledge. If you need fast cram solutions use any kind of flashcards (paper or other software).

When you decide to take the opportunity to enhance your learning with this great tool be sure to go the supermemo store from this link: SuperMemo 2008. That way you’ll buy me a beer!

Incremental Video – A way September 29, 2009

No there is no SuperMemo 2009, new Supermemo 2008 includes a lot of goodies, not many, but… Well long do, but its here, incremental video is great, I wish I had all my classes from college, ok maybe not all of them, some where totally boring. Incremental Video learning is here, is like having the opportunity to hear once a conference (jokes, dance video, what ever) and after wards you can look back to previous important sections only, and not wasting you time, with non interesting parts, is like watching a conference until you no longer understand, search related info, get back on track. I got so many video courses, I wish all of them where on youtube right now I want to get started, this is promising. Incremental Video Learning sounds like a complete learning tool, after all we learn mostly trough our eyes, don’t we. OK some also learn doing (but watching is very close) current science backs up that watching with the intention to learning helps you learn to do faster, so even if your not doing Incremental Video learning sounds great. So incremental video is super, but what it SuperMemo 2008?… I’ll make my description in the a new post.

A better way of Importing MOV files to SuperMemo September 9, 2009

Fastest way to import files into supermemo is by menu options:
File: Import: File & Folders

Previous trouble with MOV files was they didn’t play, because SuperMemo relies on MCI (Multimedia Control Interface).

This Media Control Interface, MCI in short, is an aging high-level API developed by Microsoft and IBM for controlling multimedia peripherals connected to a Microsoft Windows or OS/2 computer, such as CD-ROM players and audio controllers.

For a number of years, the MCI interface has been phased out in favor of the DirectX APIs. Source: Wikipedia

Fastest way to import files is still: File: Import: File & Folders

Just change the .mov extension to .mpg before, that way MCI (SuperMemo) will bypass the trouble with MCI for mov files, then choose the folder with your .mov (quicktime) mpg files and use File: Import: File & Folders

Ok, but then you have to spend hours changing you thousand mov files to mpg manually? Well you could better use AnalogX Extension Changer (download).

This freeware is the most easy to use extension changer. Drop and drag the files you need to change its extension, choose a new one (e.g. “mpg”), hit rename. (drop the complete folder, AnalogX will understand you mean the files not folders).

There you have it easier then typing a Q&A text file. Sometimes you’ll probably prefer text files, but no more trouble importing your MOV files to the sound registry

(ok, I got complex again, not my fault I’m not complicated, Its…. Supermemo fault, for been so much powerful, wright?

SuperMemo 2008 post will come out soon… we must see under the hood before you buy a car don’t we – perhaps not so much this days. I’ll do the testing (under a complete safe environment – complete geekeness I know, but if your going to play with your databank you should!)

Stay tuned.

AnalogX HomePage:  http://www.analogx.com/

Importing MOV files in SuperMemo September 4, 2009

Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.

Albert Einstein

Sorry, for those of you who’ve asked many hacks, tweeks and advice on using and GTD in supermemo. It’s been, and still is a full week effort, but I wanted to drop a new short post regarding some question of a fellow “Supermemoer” (aka people that embrace supermemo methodology).

Previous post concerning import of audio files did not address some issues in the sake of simplicity, although many post here don’t look simple, I always strive for simpler ways to accomplish task.

a) If I would like to have the MOV video Autoplay by default

Q: Question_text<BR><EMBED height=180 type=video/x-mov width=200 src=file:///C:/Downloads/Video/sign_0050.mov autostart=”true”>

A: Dummy_text

Q: Question_text<BR><EMBED height=180 type=video/x-mov width=200 src=file:///C:/Downloads/Video/sign_0050.mov autostart=”true”>

A: Dummy_text

b) If I would like to manually play the MOV video file

Q: Question_text<BR><EMBED height=180 type=video/x-mov width=200 src=file:///C:/Downloads/Video/sign_0050.mov autostart=”false”>

A: Dummy_text

Q: Question_text<BR><EMBED height=180 type=video/x-mov width=200 src=file:///C:/Downloads/Video/sign_0050.mov autostart=”false”>

A: Dummy_text

Notes:

“Q: ” line should be written in a single line, or in any case each new line started with another “Q: ” tag.

Type needed to let SM know what type of player to use, Width and Height are configuration options.

This type of embedding works in SuperMemo 2006, might need other tweeks on other versions.

Evidence on the Priority Queue Issue August 28, 2009

Following Littlefish strategies I’ve been working on a new collection since a couple of days ago in order to find out if the previously mention priority queue issue affects every user, and not only me because of the way I like to import Q&A pairs (trough XML structured Q&A by theme, text Q&A and transfers of collections). What happens normally to anyone using SuperMemo in a more orthodox way.

Priority Queue - See High dismissed parent folder with 56% priority

Statistics of High Priority Dismissed Collection

This pictures show the result of my research on the issue. I get a 56% priority on a folder created when just starting the collection (which belong to the parent category) things do get messier as time goes by. The moment I saw this behavior was three months ago, I found a folder with a priority way superior to 26% – high priority get lower percentage values in SuperMemo. In my collection items are autopostponed if they get a priority of 30% or lower so this folder I found was making some real high priority question get postponed.

Previous post on the issue:  Dimissed elements interfere high priority items and Priority queue issue

Don’t Drill Succefully Recalled Items August 27, 2009

I made explained what procedure I use for drill me when needed (when I make mistakes) during my repetition, you can check out previous post on this procedure here: Drill is only for mistakes

After a couple of topic repetitions today (as promised by Incremental Reading) the theoretical basis for my actions came to me, this is the quote from  the summary of a research article on this issue:

“Supplying the correct answer after an incorrect response not only improved performance during the initial learning session—it also increased final retention by 494%. On the other hand, feedback after correct responses made little difference either immediately or at a delay, regardless of whether the subject was confident in the response” (Pashler, H., Cepeda, N.J., Wixted, J.T., & Rorher,. (2005) When does feedback facilitate learning of words? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. 31, 3-8.)

After testing the difference is learning versus time spend on repetitions I’m sticking with this police:

Do the Drill if you get more then 1.5 times the desired Forgetting Index (e.g. if your FI = 10% and you get more then 15% then do the drill) but only the mistakes!.

A more detailed version – About August 26, 2009

Who Is writing this blog?

I have never though it was important to write much about me in this blog, as its objective is  to share our experiences on using and enhancing the uses of SM as a knowledge manager tool. But I was checking out visitors to the “About” page and it has some visitors so I’m posting a more detailed version today. Must hop fast into the my ride now.

Yet another theme. August 25, 2009

Constantly hacking life is what life is all about… isn’t it? Hope you guys don’t mind, this theme has certain advantages over last one.

Priority queue issue August 23, 2009

If you like Incremental Reading check out previous post a status report from a newbie in IR

The problem:

Priority queue includes dismissed elements

The experience:

First of all, if you think you read this before see note at the botton of the post.

Browsing trough my collection, I accidentally hit “alt+p” over a dismissed topic (folder in this case). To my surprise it had a high priority position 0.02 % (107 in a 54000 element queue).

To know some elements are never going to be postponed via autopospone is great insurance for high importance material. The only problem though that in this case this is a folder. To keep dismissed elements in the priority queue (even worst high in that queue) is not correct. This elements displace real high priority elements which also affects the autopostpone behavior that is the most effective way to deal with overload and hence with people leaving  supermemo after getting to a huge acumulation of material in their queue. If the autopospone + priority have this design troubles people won’t trust its knowledge to supermemo in the long run.

The priority queue is almost the main reason for using sm2006 but this high priority for dismissed elements simply is plain wrong, and should be even better in newer versions.

The Reason:

Design of a priority queue should  always based on pending material

You are only concern with “to do items”, in supermemo case those are memorized or pending.

Currently the priority percentage is been manage by the total items in the collection, which I feel is a design problem. You have an item with 6% priority in a total of 7000 items of which 50% are dismissed elements, Then in reality its priority is 12%, but of course no one will notice it at first hand.

Dismissed elements by default on any GTD management system goes to the bottom of priorities or even better have no priority at all.

Dismissed elements included in Piority window are useless

In the following scenario:

topic # 67: (dismissed element)

item #24: What is the most common cause of pneumonia? (memorized)

Topic #1542: (dismissed element)

Is not possible to make a decision about priority with regard to previous or folowing element in priority queue. Would you put it before or after the dismissed element, always before anything dismissed, wright?

Autopospone manages high priority material by not postponing them

Auto-postpone is great way for managing overload of material. By using a priority queue things get even better, that is unless the priority queue es flawed.

I consider the information in my collection according to an interval scale:

0-10% high priority

10-50% regular priority

50-100% low priority

Of course all information added to supermemo is always important, but priority has to do with what is most important over other important information.

Setting this interval scaling helps me decide the value of priority assigned to an element when needed, usually a mid interval is chosen inside the desired category

Autopostpone is set to never postpone elements with priorities lower then 10% in my collection.

After a while of including a lot of dissmised items more and more are going to be included with priorities in the 0-10% range leaving many items of high priority aside.

If you got many dismissed elements, and this fill up a lot of spaces in the priority queue, because if you don’t move dismissed elements to the end of the queue they will displaced really high priority elements making this item postponeable and the whole priority + autopostpone algorithm useless.

Proposed Behavior:

• Priority queue should only consider Memorized and Pending elements
• Priority total should only refer to this elements
• Dismissed elements should regain a new priority when added to the memorized or pending material, because of the change in its condition.

Current Work Around:

In my continue motto: “Don’t complain, fix it!”. Here is what I’ve been doing to deal with the problem.

Every once and a while (e.g. monthly or after adding a lot of new elements)

1. Open View: Dismissed
2. Undismiss
3. Dismiss this subset.

Dismissed elements are always put at the lowest priority possible (I previously though this was flawed) In this sense steps needed are less and simpler. Previous steps are bellow in gray.

1. Open complete collection in browser
2. Selected child dismissed
3. Undismiss
4. Change priority
5. Dismiss again the same subset.

Notes: (3) is necessary otherwise browser won’t accept changing priorities in dismissed elements. (4) Use a interval big enough to fit all dismissed items. (5) Don’t ever forget this step, else medicine will be worst then the disease.

I do this is by using autohotkey macros, but not plain keyboard will do it with ease.

This an updated post for problems on priority queue for dismissed elements

Incremental Reading Status Report – Littlefish August 23, 2009

Nice experience by a knowlegde lover. I invite you to enjoy this comment, I couldn’t post this sort of description of feeling about using Incremental Reading from the beginning, I’m so much inmerse in using SuperMemo as a whole that my memories are not so clear about my first experiences when I started, I assure you though that they where as intense as this status report.